Chapter 2: A Big Birthday Gift

A knock sounded at the door, and Wen Ling hurriedly hung up the phone to open it.

"Miss, we need to leave now."

Wen Ling looked at the bruise on the bodyguard's face and frowned. "What happened to your face?"

"Just now, the bodyguards from Fifth Master Zhou's side caught up to us. We barely managed to fight them off."

When she was in Country M, Wen Ling had people investigate. Zhou Yinhe currently only kept two bodyguards by his side, so this time when she returned, she specifically brought six!

Yet all six of them failed to win.

Wen Ling frowned and had no choice but to leave with them.

Wen Ling retreated into the study and searched for a name on the computer.

【Rising starlet Ruan Miaomiao reveals she's had a crush since university—it was the senior who stood up for her when she was bullied on campus. According to her, her crush comes from a noble background and is worth over 100 billion.】

【Prize guessing game: Who exactly is rising starlet Ruan Miaomiao's crush? Guess correctly and win the latest full fruit set!】

Still playing the innocent, clinging act as always. Wen Ling curled her lips in a mocking smile.

If she hadn't awakened and been reborn, Ruan Miaomiao would probably really become the most envied person in all of Sijiu City, just like in the book.

Too bad she was reborn. Ruan Miaomiao's lies, full of holes but blindly believed because of her protagonist halo, would eventually be exposed before everyone.

She closed the computer, returned to her room to shower. Standing before the mirror, Wen Ling's fingers lightly traced the red marks on her collarbone, pursing her lips as she whispered, "Zhou Yinhe."

Six months into their relationship came Zhou Yinhe's twenty-second birthday. Besides preparing a gift for him, Wen Ling had also prepared a special grand gift—herself.

After the birthday banquet came the birthday party, undoubtedly the liveliest part. Zhou Yinhe's childhood friends were all wild players, carrying on until dawn.

She asked him to come to her room to find her, saying there was another grand gift besides the one given at the party.

Back then, he wasn't as shameless as he later became. Upon seeing her attire in the room, his cheeks flushed crimson, his eyes darting everywhere, not daring to look at her.

"Why won't you look at me?"

Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together, not speaking, only hiding his trembling hands behind his back.

Wen Ling walked gracefully before him, her slender fair arms rising to embrace him, whispering in his ear: "Haven't you ever watched those kinds of videos before?"

How could he not have? He wasn't some truly innocent little kid.

"I have."

Wen Ling's eyes curved with smiles as she leaned close to his face, blinking, her voice soft: "I don't believe you had zero other thoughts during the time we've been together."

Though she was Chinese by bloodline, having been born and raised in Country M, her style of dress was more uninhibited. Every time they dated, if her skirt was too short or her top too revealing, he'd wear an expression of wanting to look but not wanting others to look.

Having thoughts and acting on them were different things. Zhou Yinhe's ear tips were red enough to steam, yet Wen Ling had to add fuel to the fire, directly jumping up to wrap her legs around his waist.

With that little provocation, shame was gone, face and dignity discarded. He pulled a box from his pocket—condoms he'd brought before coming—and with Wen Ling's eyes widening, his pitch-black eyes tinged with red, he pinned her wrists and tormented her endlessly.

Begging for mercy through tears was useless.

Wen Ling walked to the balcony, staring blankly at the boundless night.

In Country M, not to mention other things, she played freely and wildly, surrounded by fox-and-dog friends, whatever she wanted to play, someone behind her could clean up the mess. But for Zhou Yinhe, she was willing to give those up, suppressing the repressed anger and rebellion in her heart, staying obediently by his side.

If Zhou Yinhe hadn't been so good to her, if she hadn't known their mutual love was no less than the other's, she would never have come to suffer this grievance.

Over the next few days, Wen Ling instructed the bodyguards to stake out Zhou Yinhe's residence and company. Whenever he went out, no matter where, they had to inform Wen Ling, making it convenient for her to manufacture chance encounters.

But Zhou Yinhe didn't leave for three straight days. Wen Ling even suspected he knew she had people watching him and snuck out the back door.

The bodyguard said: "There's no back door. Fifth Young Master Zhou truly hasn't left."

Wen Ling frowned deeply at this.

On the fourth night, the bodyguard finally sent Wen Ling a location. She looked—it was actually Nyx, the most famous bar in Sijiu City.

With the intention of seduction, she changed into a dark, tight, short skirt. The exquisite tailoring perfectly outlined her figure, a head of brown fluffy curls scattered behind her back, making her look even more like a fox spirit.

Wen Ling's slender fair fingers twined around a curl, looking satisfied at herself in the mirror.

Night grew deeper, boundless darkness enveloping Sijiu City. The driver dropped her at the entrance and drove to the parking lot to wait.

Wen Ling stood at Nyx's entrance, curiously surveying the surroundings—it lived up to its reputation in Sijiu City.

Inside the bar, lights were dim and hazy, heavy metal music deafening. Bodies pressed close on the dance floor, alcohol permeating the air.

Such a bright, flamboyant beauty approaching quickly attracted numerous gazes, some bold ones directly coming up to hit on her, only to be stopped and threatened by several men in black who suddenly appeared.

The bodyguards had already told her which private room Zhou Yinhe was in. She walked purposefully down the corridor, finally finding that private room at the very end.

Zhou Yinhe was different tonight. Jiang Jiubai glanced at him several times, then signaled to Qi Zhan, who was drinking with a charming girl in his arms. He directly turned off the room's equipment and the two walked over to Zhou Yinhe.

Qi Zhan teased: "What? Unhappy because Ruan Miaomiao said she has a crush a few days ago?"

Zhou Yinhe frowned at him, somewhat uncomprehending: "What does Ruan Miaomiao having a crush have to do with me?"

Jiang Jiubai raised a brow: "Aren't you quite good to her? Even gave her resources."

"Just her compensation." Zhou Yinhe explained casually.

Jiang Jiubai and Qi Zhan exchanged a glance. Qi Zhan asked Zhou Yinhe again: "Then what's wrong with you? Like you lost your soul."

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips, not wanting to speak. Just as he tried to shake them off, the two grabbed his arms and pulled him back.

"Don't leave until you tell us."

Zhou Yinhe had to relax against the sofa, silent for a moment before speaking: "I saw Wen Ling."

"..."

Qi Zhan's eyes widened in shock: "Who did you say?"

Zhou Yinhe gave him a sidelong glance. It was already hard enough making him say it once, and he wanted him to repeat it? Impossible. He retorted: "Go treat your deafness. If you have no money, I'll lend you some."

"Didn't she go back to Country M to fight for the inheritance? How did she suddenly return? When did you see her?" Jiang Jiubai's expression changed, frowning as he asked.

"You wouldn't be falling for her again, would you? Planning to rekindle an old flame?" Qi Zhan draped an arm over Zhou Yinhe's shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Little Five, we can't be love-brained. Careful she plays you again..."

Zhou Yinhe shook off his hand, his brow furrowed with irritation.

"Unclear. Don't know."

Seeing his state, the two exchanged several glances, preparing to continue questioning.

The private room door was suddenly pushed open. Everyone in the room looked over in unison, freezing for a moment.

"Wen Ling?"

(End of chapter)